M. O. Grenby is Reader in Children's Literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Andrea Immel is Curator of the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University, New Jersey.

• Preface M. O. Grenby and Andrea Immel; Chronology Eric J. Johnson; Part I. Contexts and Genres: 1. The origins of children's literature M. O. Grenby; 2. Children's books and the constructions of childhood Andrea Immel; 3. The making of children's books Brian Alderson; 4. Picture book worlds and ways of seeing Katie Trumpener; 5. The fear of poetry Richard Flynn; 6. Retelling stories across time and cultures John Stephens; 7. Classics and canons Deborah Stevenson; Part II. Audiences: 8. Learning to be literate Lissa Paul; 9. Gender roles in children's fiction Judy Simons; 10. Children's texts and the grown-up reader U. C. Knoepfelmacher; 11. Ideas of difference in children's literature Lynne Vallone; Part III. Forms and Themes: 12. Changing families in children's fiction Kimberley Reynolds; 13. Traditions of the school story Mavis Reimer; 14. Fantasy's alternative geography for children Andrea Immel, U. C. Knoepfelmacher and Julia Briggs; 15. Animal and object stories David Rudd; 16. Humour and the body in children's literature Roderick McGillis; Guide to further reading; Index.

'… concise, stimulating comments on other school stories from the late 20th century, such as Diana Wynne Jones's Witch Week, help cast the conventions and conventionality of the Harry Potter books into relief and draw attention to the numerous alternative school stories out there.' www.parentcentral.ca

M. O. Grenby is Reader in Children's Literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Andrea Immel is Curator of the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University, New Jersey.

• Preface M. O. Grenby and Andrea Immel; Chronology Eric J. Johnson; Part I. Contexts and Genres: 1. The origins of children's literature M. O. Grenby; 2. Children's books and the constructions of childhood Andrea Immel; 3. The making of children's books Brian Alderson; 4. Picture book worlds and ways of seeing Katie Trumpener; 5. The fear of poetry Richard Flynn; 6. Retelling stories across time and cultures John Stephens; 7. Classics and canons Deborah Stevenson; Part II. Audiences: 8. Learning to be literate Lissa Paul; 9. Gender roles in children's fiction Judy Simons; 10. Children's texts and the grown-up reader U. C. Knoepfelmacher; 11. Ideas of difference in children's literature Lynne Vallone; Part III. Forms and Themes: 12. Changing families in children's fiction Kimberley Reynolds; 13. Traditions of the school story Mavis Reimer; 14. Fantasy's alternative geography for children Andrea Immel, U. C. Knoepfelmacher and Julia Briggs; 15. Animal and object stories David Rudd; 16. Humour and the body in children's literature Roderick McGillis; Guide to further reading; Index.

'… concise, stimulating comments on other school stories from the late 20th century, such as Diana Wynne Jones's Witch Week, help cast the conventions and conventionality of the Harry Potter books into relief and draw attention to the numerous alternative school stories out there.' www.parentcentral.ca

M. O. Grenby is Reader in Children's Literature at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Andrea Immel is Curator of the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University, New Jersey.

• Preface M. O. Grenby and Andrea Immel; Chronology Eric J. Johnson; Part I. Contexts and Genres: 1. The origins of children's literature M. O. Grenby; 2. Children's books and the constructions of childhood Andrea Immel; 3. The making of children's books Brian Alderson; 4. Picture book worlds and ways of seeing Katie Trumpener; 5. The fear of poetry Richard Flynn; 6. Retelling stories across time and cultures John Stephens; 7. Classics and canons Deborah Stevenson; Part II. Audiences: 8. Learning to be literate Lissa Paul; 9. Gender roles in children's fiction Judy Simons; 10. Children's texts and the grown-up reader U. C. Knoepfelmacher; 11. Ideas of difference in children's literature Lynne Vallone; Part III. Forms and Themes: 12. Changing families in children's fiction Kimberley Reynolds; 13. Traditions of the school story Mavis Reimer; 14. Fantasy's alternative geography for children Andrea Immel, U. C. Knoepfelmacher and Julia Briggs; 15. Animal and object stories David Rudd; 16. Humour and the body in children's literature Roderick McGillis; Guide to further reading; Index.

'… concise, stimulating comments on other school stories from the late 20th century, such as Diana Wynne Jones's Witch Week, help cast the conventions and conventionality of the Harry Potter books into relief and draw attention to the numerous alternative school stories out there.' www.parentcentral.ca